Let me begin with a personal experience that will illustrate the importance of getting your training right. A few years ago I had some friends who had a rottweiler. My daughter would go around to their house to play with their daughter sometimes. One day while I was there with my daughter, I noticed that the dog was allowed to be in the house all of the time. That was ok I thought until we were all sitting down to enjoy a cup of coffee. For no apparent reason the dog took exception to my daughter taking a biscuit from a plate on the coffee table and began to growl at her. I must admit I felt very concerned about the behaviour of the dog. It was apparent that this dog had decided that it could make the rules regarding the family’s food. Not only that but because it was such a big dog, I realised that it could potentially do a huge amount of damage to a child – or anyone for that matter.

On another occasion I happened to be at this friend’s house and she was having a lie down on the bed. The dog was also laying on the bed as it usually did. My friend’s husband came into the room at this moment and suddenly the dog was up on it’s feet, still on the bed, growling and snarling.

Here was a dog who was totally in control, a dog who had been allowed to assume the role of pack leader and here was a family that didn’t know how to deal with a situation that they had inadvertently created.

The reason for this true story is to illustrate how we can create a situation where a dog becomes a threat to people and possibly other dogs simply because of a lack of good training.

How could this situation have been avoided?
First and foremost if we are thinking of getting a dog as a family pet, we must do the research first before we go out and buy one. It is all too easy to go into a petshop or whatever and be ruled by our emotions. You see a fluffy bundle of fur and you just have to take it home. Or you go to an animal rescue centre and the plight of some poor abandoned pooch pulls so hard at your heart strings that you find yourself agreeing to look after it and give it a good home.
For the sake of the dog and your family you need to be fully aware that training a dog is one of the most important things you can do.

In order to accomplish an effective training programme you first have to have some knowledge about the types of training techniques that are available. This involves spending some time on the internet or reading books to find out which method is going to be right for you and the type of dog you would like to own.

It may seem like a big investment of your time but it will certainly pay dividends in the quality of the relationship you will have with your pet,. The kind of training that you decide on should depend on not only the breed of dog you decide upon, but also the age and background of the animal.

Different breeds can sometimes require different training methods and rescued dogs are an unknown quantity altogether.
Many people want to help a rescue dog and that is a very kind thing to do when you realize how many dogs there are waiting for a good home. In this situation, it can be really helpful to know some of the background of the dog you choose.
As an example, imagine you take home a dog that has had a history of abuse. It may be either aggressive or scared. It may even resist being touched. How would you deal with a dog like this?

Well you wouldn’t want to launch into a strict regime of obedience training straight away. The first thing you would have to do is to establish trust between you and the dog. How would you go about this? Trying to rush things isn’t the way to go. Gradually encourage the dog to approach you for physcal contact. Begin slowly by placing a treat on the floor a short distance from the dog and then step away from it. When the dog takes the treat, give lots of verbal praise. This will demonstrate to the dog that you are not a threat to it. Continue with this and eventually the trust will be established and you will find that the dog can approach you without fear or aggression. Patience and love are paramount here because the dog has possibly never experienced kindness before. It will take time and the patience that you will need to demonstrate is second only to that of bringing up a child.

Of course there are many more things to consider if you are thinking about adopting a rescue dog and again it is the course of wisdom to check out what is available in the way of training programs.

Whether it is a rescue dog, a puppy, or a pedigree animal, I would recommend that you do spend some time looking at various ways that you can train your pet before you bring him or her home.

About The Author
J. Marie Brown had her first dog at the age of five. Since then she has seen the well trained and the not so well trained. In order to see some of the expertize that is available for dog training feel free to visit her web site www.k9-dog-training.com

By Colleen Pelar, CPDT, CDBC

When you are up pacing the floor at night trying to soothe an upset baby, the last thing you want to deal with is a stressed-out dog underfoot. But all too often, that’s what happens.

A baby’s cry is meant to be distressing. We are hard-wired to want to do something, anything, to make the crying stop. Dogs recognize this too, so they often become very stressed when a baby is crying. It is worth taking some time to find ways to help your dog cope.

Treats. One of the simplest things you can do is keep a jar of cheerios or small dog treats in your baby’s room. As you are singing to, rocking and cajoling your baby, toss a treat now and then to your dog. Toss some directly to the dog and others to various corners of the room. This will help to distract the dog (and you, to a much lesser extent) and will lower the dog’s stress. Longer-lasting treats, such as bones or stuffed Kongs, can also give your dog an energy outlet; he can chew while you jostle the baby.
Inclusion. It can be tempting to keep the dog away when you are busy with the baby, but the more you can incorporate the dog into your baby care, the faster your dog will adapt. Encourage your dog to move from room with you as you and the baby go through the day. Talk to your dog while you are changing diapers, pet the dog when you sitting in the rocking chair and let your dog clean up any food-related messes on the floor.
Downtime. In addition to having your dog participate in your daily activities, make sure he gets some downtime as well. Set aside some time each day when he can rest quietly in his crate or in a bedroom. As anyone with a baby knows, naps are a very good thing!
Distraction. While you are pacing with the baby, give your dog simple cues that don’t require your physical involvement, such as sit, down, and find it (teach your dog the names of his toys). Giving the dog something to focus on will distract and soothe him.
Exercise. This won’t help you in midst of a crying jag, but making sure that your dog is getting plenty of exercise will lower his stress levels considerably. Ask a friends and family to help either by taking the dog for a nice, long walk or by watching the baby so you and the dog can both get out for some fresh air.
Habituation. Day by day, week by week, your dog is learning what is normal baby behavior and what is more extreme. Soon your dog will be more blasé about when your baby fusses, but keep using these tips so that when your baby has an ear infection or a bad cold, you’ll be able to focus primarily on the baby and the dog won’t be too stressed and underfoot.

Dealing with an anxious dog in addition to an upset baby makes things much harder for you. Having a game plan in advance will allow you to focus on your baby while still addressing and alleviating your dog’s concern.

Colleen Pelar, CPDT, CDBC, (www.livingwithkidsanddogs.com.) author of Living with Kids and Dogs . . . Without Losing Your Mind, is America’s Kids and Canines Coach. Colleen has more than 15 years’ experience as the go-to person for parents trying to navigate kid-and-dog issues. Because every interaction between a child and a dog can be improved by a knowledgeable adult, Colleen is committed to educating parents, children and dog owners on kid-and-dog relationships.